Illuminated hat



prii 4, 196 J. R. KELLER Erm. 29789595 ILLUMINATED HAT Filed Sept. 8,1958 i am:

Uni Sms Pafifiilt ELUMINATED HAT John R. Keller and Russell R. Kelly,Cincinnati, Ohio,

assignors to Clever Things Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of OhioFiled Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. N'. 759,609

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-366) This invention relates to childrens toys and isparticu-l larly directed to a novel hat having an intermittently` ashingdome.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a toy hathaving a translucent dome which glows4 intermittently. The flashingoccurs automatically; that is, it does not depend upon any manuallyoperated buttons, or the like. In fact, the entire dashing mechanism ismounted within the hat and is concealedfrom view so that an extremelyunusual effect is achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide av easilyfabricated parts, i.e., two small batteries, three wires, and twoplastic members.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the conceptof providing a hat construction including a cap member, the upperportion of which is provided with means to support one or morebatteries, a selfdashing bulb and electrical conductors forinterconnecting the battery and bulb. The hat is further provided with aremovable translucent dome which is frictionally. held over the topportion ofthe cap member and con.

ceals the batteries, conductors and light bulb. but which is completelyilluminated by the flashing light bulb.

One of the advantages 'of the present construction is that it isextremely economical to produce. In the pre- Figure 2 is across-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa cross-sectional view taken along line 37-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

As is shown in Figure 1, a hat 10 constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention comprises a dish shaped cap member11 adapted to tit over thehead of a child. Y The upper portion of thecap member 11 is provided with an upstanding cylindrical base section 12which is covered by a translucent dome 13, the lowerl portion of thedome frictionally engaging the side wall 14 of base 12. Dome 13 enclosesa self-flashing bulb 415'whichis'interconnected through wires 16, 17,and

18 to a pair of drycells 20 and 21. When the device is assembled and thecircuit is completed, only the cap portion and dome are `visible and thedome emits a flashing light which gives the hat a highly unusualappearance.

More particularly, cap portion 11 is preferably a unitary plasticmolding formed of polyethylene, or other suitable plastic and includes acurved downwardly openingwall adapted to embrace a childs head. Ifdesired, the lower rim 22 of the cap portion can be provided with twoopposed openings for receiving the ends of a resilient chin strap (notshown). The upper portion of cap member11 carries base 12 which ispreferably molded integrally with the cap portion and comprises acircular upstanding wll 14 adapted to receive and frictionally engagey awall vof dome 13. n n

Base 12 further comprises two parallel recesses 24 and i 25 forreceiving dry cells 20 and 21. These recesses are ferred embodiment, thecap portion and dome are unitary plastic moldings which are heldtogether by simple frictional engagement. The electrical componentsofthe device comprise two small dry cells which nest within suitable`recesses formed in the top portion of the cap member. A self-liashingvbulb and three copper wires complete the assembly. VThe copper wiresperform four` functions.l In the lirst place, they provide an electricalinterconnection between the batteries and bulb. In the second place theyform-a mechanical mounting for .the bulb. In the third place, theycooperate withfthe bulb to perform a switching function, permitting thelbulb tobe disconnected, since the wires are adapted to support the bulbeither in a closed or open `circuit condition; and finally, the wireshelp to frictionally lock the batteries within the recesses.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore readily apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription of the drawings preferably of the same width as the diameterof the dry cells and are provided with resilient integral lugs 27 forengaging the dry cells to help retain them in their position. Each endof theA recesses 24 and 25 is also provided with a small bore 40-41 forreceiving and frictionally engaging the end of a Wire. Additionally web28 extending between the-two cells is provided with two spaced bores forreceiving and frictionally supporting the ends of two wires.

vWires 16, 17, and 18 perform several functions, one of which is toelectrically interconnect batteries 20 and 21 in series with one anotherand with self-flashing bulb 15. The exact details of construction ofbulb 15 constitute no part of the present invention. It will sufficehere to state that bulb 15 comprises a glass envelope 30 and a base 31joined in a conventional manner. Glass envelope 30 encloses a filament32 which is supported between the two rigid wires 33 and 34. Wire 33 isconnected to an insulated terminal 35 provided at the bottom of the bulbbase in the usual manner. Lead 34, however, is insulated from the secondterminal constituted by the base sleeve. This -lead is` adapted to beconnected to that terminal through a bimetallic strip 36. As isdiagrammatically indicated in Figure 2, the free I end 4of 'thisbimetallic strip normally engages the upper end oflead'34 adjacent tofilament 32. Consequently, when'the lamp bulb is initially energized, acircuit is completed through the bimetallic strip to the filament.However, when the filament heats up, the bimetallic strip bends and thefilament circuit is broken so that the lamp is extinguished. This inturn causes the bimetallic strip to cool off and return to its originalposition in contact with wire 34, whereupon the lamp filament is againenergized. In this manner, the lamp bulb 15 continues to glowintermittently so long as it is connected to the dry cells 20 and 21through wires 16, 17, and 1'8.

Wire 18 is generally U-shaped, the ends 37 and 38 of.

this wire being inserted within bores 40 and 41 so that the wire isAfrictionally held in place within the bores.,

Patented Apr- Wire 1'8 interconnects the negative terminal of cell 20with the positive terminal of cell 21.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the center portion of wire 1,8 is hel-d inplace vby two resilient lugs 39-39. These lugs are molded as an integralpart of theY base section. The ends Iof the lugs are spacedapartslightly while the base portions of the lugs have suicientclearance between them to accomodate wire 18. Thus, wire 18 can beplaced downwardly between the ends of the lugs which are suicientlyresilient to be displaced, permitting the wire to pass into theclearance space between the lug bases. After the Wire has entered thisspace,

the resilient ends ofthe lugs return to their original position andfunction to hold wire 18 in place.

`Wire 17 comprises a foot portion 42 disposed at the opposite endl ofrecess 2S in frictional engagement with a suitable opening provided inthat recess. This wire engages the negative terminal of dry cell 21.Wire 17 also includes a contact arm portion 43 disposed to lie along theupper surface of web 28 and including a downwardly extending end portion44 inserted in an opening formed in the web.

Wire 16 comprises a lirst upstanding leg 4S inserted in an openingformed in the end of recess 24 and a second -upstanding leg 46 insertedin an opening in web 28. The intermediate portion of this wire is coiledto form a socket section 47 adapted to threadably receive base section31 of lamp bulb 15. j

Socket section 47 is disposed directly over contact arm portion 43 ofwire 17 so that when bulb 15 is threaded downwardly, the insulatedterminal on the lower section of the base is in electrical contact witharm portion 43. Since `wire 16 is slightly resilient when the bulb istightened, the wire is bent slightly upwardly and functions to firmlyhold the bulb in contact with wire 17. No switch is required in the lighbulb circuit since to turn the bulb nal of said dry cell, said conductorbeing spaced from said wire and disposed for contact with saidbulb whensaid bulb is threaded into said coiled wire, and a translucent plasticdome mounted over said base in frictional engagement therewith, saiddome enclosing said light bulb, battery, wire and conductor, wherebywhen said light bulb is threaded inwardly in said coil into engagementwith said conductor said light bulb is effective to cause said dome toglow intermittently, and whereby said light bulb can be completelydisconnected by threading it outwardly in said coiled wire to disengagethe light bulb from said conductor.

in each of said recesses, openings formed adjacent to the ofi it ismerely threaded a turn within socket portion 47 so that the contact inthe tip yof the bulb is spaced from wire 17 and the circuit to the bulblament is thus broken. The frictional engagement between the bulb andsocket is effective to hold the bulb in this position. To light thebulb, it is merely threaded inwardly to bring its insulated contact backinto engagement with the contact segment 43 of wire 17.

The hat assembly is completed by means of a translucent dorne 13. Thisdome is preferably molded from a slightly resilient material, such aspolyethylene, or the like, and is translucent so that light from bulb 15appears to light the dome. In the preferred embodiment, dome 13 has acurved upper end 48 and straight side walls 50V defining a skirt whichts over the vertical wall 14 of base section 12 and frictionally engagesthat wall so that the dome is firmly held in place.

It is believed that the operation of the present hat is clearly apparentfrom the foregoing description. It is further believed apparent thatthose skilled in the art will readily comprehend various modificationsto which the present invention is susceptible. For example,;it iscontemplated that the skirt of dome 13 can frictionally engage a ribformed on the outer surface of the base section 12 rather than theentire outer wall of the base section.-

Moreover, the cap portion could be of different contiguration so that itwould look like a helmet for example.-

base having recess formed therein, a dry cell disposed in said recess, aself-llashing light bulb, a wire coiled for threadably engaging andsupporting said bulb and interconnecting said bulb and one terminal ofsaid dry cell, a conductor in electrical connection with the othertermiends of said recesses, a rst generally U-shaped wire having endsinserted in an opening formed in each of said recesses in electricalconnection with each of said dry cells, a second wire having a lirst endinserted in an open,

ing in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry celldisposed therein, said second wire also including a conductor portiondisposed intermediate said dry cells, and a third wire having a firstupstanding leg inserted in an opening in one of said recesses inelectrical' connection with the dry cell disposed therein and having .acoiled socket forming portion disposed above the conductor portion ofsaid second wire, a self-liashing light bulb threadably engaging saidsocket portion, and having an insulated terminal in engagement with theconductor portion of the second wire.

3. A toy hat comprising a cap portion, a translucent dome adapted to bemounted upon said cap portion, said cap portion having a base section,including an upstanding peripheral wall formed adjacent to the topthereof, said base section being provided with two spaced recessesseparated by la web, said web having two recesses formed l therein, twodry cells, one of said dry cells being disposed.

in each recess, openings formed adjacent to the ends of said recesses, afirst generally U-shaped wire having ends inserted in an opening formedin each of said recesses, the ends of said rst wire being in electricalconnection with each of said dry cells, a second wire having a rst endinserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connectionwith the dry cell disposed therein, said second wire including aconductor portion disposed over said web intermediate said dry cells anda second end disposed in lan opening in said web, and a third wirehaving a rst upstanding leg inserted in an opening in one of saidrecesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein,said third wire including a coiled socket forming portion disposed abovethe conductor portion of said second wire, and a second upstanding legdisposed in an opening in said web, a self-dashing light bulb thread-iably engaging said socket portion and having an insulated terminal 1nengagement with the conductor portion of the second threaded wire.

4. A toy hat comprising a cap portion, a translucentA in each recess,openings formed adjacent to the ends of` 'said recesses, a lirstgenerally U-shaped wire having ends inserted in an opening formed ineach of said recesses in electrical connection with each of said drycells, a'seco-nd wire having a first end inserted in an opening in oneof said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposedtherein, said second wire including a conductor` portion disposed oversaid web intermediate said dry cells and a second end disposed in'anopening in said web, and a. third wire having a rst upstanding leginserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connectionwith the dry cell disposed therein, said third wire including a coiledsocket forming portion disposed above the conductor portion of saidsecond wire, and a second upstanding leg disposed in an opening in saidweb, a selfashing light bulb threadably engaging said socket portion andhaving an insulated terminal in engagement with the conductor portion ofthe second threaded wire, said translucent dome having a skirt portionfrictionally embracing the upstanding peripheral wall of said capportion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSTheilacker Feb. 11, 1936 Avery l. Jan. 2, 1951 Prups .Tune l2, 1953Lenning Feb. 5, 1957 Hesse Apr. 9, 1957 Campanell Dec. 10, 1957

